'Paid ₹30 lakh in tax, got depression': Bengaluru techie’s layoff story goes viral

A post by social media Influencer Venkatesh Alla has gone viral, starting a heated online debate about job safety in India.

Bengaluru techie's layoff story

The post shares the story of a top-performing engineer from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Mr Salim, who was laid off from a leading Bengaluru tech firm with an annual package of Rs 43.5 lakh.

Salim had paid over Rs 30 lakh in income tax over five years, including Rs 11.22 lakh in the previous year alone, but did not receive any support after losing his job. He was given only three months' severance pay by the company.

Now unemployed, Salim is relying on his severance pay and savings to fund his children's education, which annually costs Rs 1.95 lakh per child.

"Now jobless, thankfully without a home loan, he's using his savings and severance to pay for his children's education, ₹1.95 lakh per child, per year. That's where his "reward" is going. Worse, he fell into depression. He said he felt like he was suddenly on the road, abandoned from every direction. The same government he paid lakhs to in taxes betrayed him the moment he needed it most," the post by Mr Alla read.

"This is what happens to genuine taxpayers in India. You pay. You comply. You contribute. And when you're in crisis, you're on your own. This country desperately needs to change. Because right now, it's failing the very people who carry it forward," the post said.

Just got a message from Mr. Salim a topper from his NIT, working in Bangalore with a ₹43.5 LPA package laid off last month. The company handed him just 3 months’ severance.

Last year alone, he paid ₹11.22 lakhs in income tax. In just 5 years, over ₹30 lakhs gone into the…

— Venkatesh Alla (@venkat_fin9) June 29, 2025

Netizens react

Though many users advocated for key reforms in the income tax policy, including structured unemployment benefits to provide financial support during job loss, some users disagreed on whether the government should help in such cases. 

One user commented, "You want the government to give him a job because he lost his job? Does this make any sense?"

Another said, "This is the same everywhere in the world. The problem isn't taxation, it's the lack of long-term financial planning."

A third user remarked, "The only solution is to expand the tax base, bring more into the formal economy. Only then can we reduce the burden on the salaried middle class."

A fourth added, "Layoffs are always a tragedy and it's difficult for young and brilliant minds to get fired. I hope the brilliant guy will get the job soon. But what's the relationship between getting fired and paying taxes? It happens all the time in US. India can't sustain the European model of unemployment payment."

Also read: Zomato appoints Aditya Mangla as CEO of food delivery business (startuppedia.in)